Obturator canal

Passageway connecting the pelvis to the thigh

Obturator canal
Obturator canal, above the obturator membrane
The relations of the femoral and abdominal inguinal rings, seen from within the abdomen. Right side. (Obturator canal not labeled, but visible at bottom center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	canalis obturatorius
TA98	A03.6.01.003
TA2	1849
FMA	25715
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The obturator canal is a passageway formed in the obturator foramen by part of the obturator membrane and the pelvis. It connects the pelvis to the thigh.

Structure

Variations in origin and course of obturator artery. (Obturator canal not labeled, but visible at bottom center of each diagram.)

The obturator canal is formed between the obturator membrane and the pelvis.^[1] The obturator artery, obturator vein, and obturator nerve all travel through the canal.

Clinical significance

An obturator hernia is a type of hernia involving an intrusion into the obturator canal.

The obturator nerve can be compressed in the obturator canal.^[2]

The obturator canal may be compressed during pregnancy and major traumatic injuries, causing obturator syndrome.^[3]

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

^ Federle, Michael P.; Rosado-de-Christenson, Melissa L.; Raman, Siva P.; Carter, Brett W., eds. (2017-01-01), "Female Pelvic Floor", Imaging Anatomy: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis (Second Edition), Elsevier, pp. 1050–1077, doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-47781-9.50046-5, ISBN 978-0-323-47781-9, retrieved 2021-01-30
^ Weiss, Lyn; Silver, Julie K.; Lennard, Ted A.; Weiss, Jay M. (2007-01-01), Weiss, Lyn; Silver, Julie K.; Lennard, Ted A.; Weiss, Jay M. (eds.), "Chapter 6 - Nerves", Easy Injections, Philadelphia: Butterworth-Heinemann, pp. 105–155, doi:10.1016/b978-075067527-7.10006-5, ISBN 978-0-7506-7527-7, retrieved 2021-01-30
^ Garten, Hans (2013-01-01), Garten, Hans (ed.), "M. gracilis", The Muscle Test Handbook, Churchill Livingstone, pp. 108–109, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-3739-9.00051-1, ISBN 978-0-7020-3739-9, retrieved 2021-01-30

External links

Joints and ligaments of torso

Vertebral

Syndesmosis

Of vertebral bodies	anterior longitudinal ligament posterior longitudinal ligament
Of vertebral arches	ligamenta flava supraspinous ligament nuchal ligament interspinous ligament intertransverse ligament

Symphysis

Synovial joint

Atlanto-axial	Medial: Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) Alar ligament Apical ligament of dens Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint Lateral: no ligaments anterior atlantoaxial ligament posterior atlantoaxial ligament
Zygapophysial	no ligaments
Lumbosacral	iliolumbar ligament
Sacrococcygeal	anterior sacrococcygeal ligament posterior sacrococcygeal ligament

Thorax

Costovertebral

Head of rib	Radiate ligament Intra-articular ligament
Costotransverse	Costotransverse ligament Lumbocostal ligament

Sternocostal

Interchondral

no ligaments

Costochondral

no ligaments

Pelvis

Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle	Obturator membrane Obturator canal
Pubic symphysis	superior pubic ligament inferior pubic ligament
Sacroiliac	anterior sacroiliac ligament posterior sacroiliac ligament interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament sacrospinous ligament